Reliability of Scripture

In this time of great deception which we are in, where so many Christians and churches throughout the country are lacking discernment and allowing false doctrines and watered down gospel teaching to sneak in, it is a great encouragement to me and hopefully you, when I read scripture such as the one I read this morning from 1 Thessalonians:

* “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 1:13

What a great verse that clearly speaks to the reader that the scriptures are truly God’s word! My favorite and perhaps yours, is 2 Timothy 3:16, where it says “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

You can always rely on God’s word! It must be the final and only authority for matters of salvation and Christian living. If the scriptures are truly God’s word, we cannot allow anyone or anything to undermine it’s authority. No matter how smooth sounding that evangelist on tv is; no matter if he or she makes you feel really good; are the words coming out of their mouths true to biblical principles? This is where our responsibility comes in.

We are all called to be like the Bereans, who were commended by Paul for listening to his sermons, and at the same time, comparing what he said to the scriptures. I’m sure they admired Paul and were impressed by his sermons, BUT they did not automatically assume that whatever he spoke was “the gospel”. They used their discernment to judge what he said. And he welcomed that judgment. What a testimony of humility from Paul, that he was not so proud that he expected people to take in all he said without confirming it. Oh that more of us were like those Bereans!

So little of that is done today. Some of the things I see on television from some of the most popular and loved preachers is just full of error, but they command large congregations and generate great wealth. My friends, I would rather be in a small church of ten hearing some real, true to the Word gospel preaching every week, than be a member of of a mega-church or some large church that is feeding the people worthless, feel-good messages that God will give you anything you want. Messages that say that you are lacking in wealth or health, only because you have not asked God for it. As if God is always going to give you what you want. I thank God for His Word. It is reliable; it is inerrant; it is the only real source of truth that gives us the answers to the questions we ask.

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:1 Here is the commentary of the Lord Jesus on the doctrine of plenary verbal inspiration. Not only were the words of the Bible divinely inspired, but even the very letters! The “jot” was the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet (yod, the tenth letter). The “tittle” was a small horn-like appendage which transformed one Hebrew letter into another. Thus, a stronger statement of absolute verbal inspiration than this could hardly be imagined. Further, the phrase “in no wise” is actually a double negative in Greek. In New Testament Greek it was used for strong emphasis.

According to none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, every word–even every letter–of the “law” must be fulfilled. This certainly includes the books of the Pentateuch–including even the often-maligned and distorted opening chapters of Genesis! He applied the same principle to other parts of Scripture as well. “The scripture cannot be broken,” He said (John 10:35) in the course of an exposition of Psalm 82:6, based on one single word used in the verse, supporting the vital doctrine of His own deity.

It is clear that Christ taught the doctrine of full, verbal inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. It is sad and inexcusable that so many today who call themselves Christians repudiate this vital teaching of the Lord Jesus by rejecting, diluting, or “interpreting” the plain statements of the Word of God. And, lest anyone equivocate by suggesting that, since the original writings have all been lost, we no longer can know what the divinely given words may have been, we should remember Christ’s promise: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). HMM (End)

Brothers and sisters, let us stay true to God’s Word and always rely on it for the final, authoritative answers as to how to live, and for the answers on salvation, creation, and all other questions that arise. Compare your “opinion” to what the scriptures really say, in context to the text, and if it does not fall in line with God’s Word, throw it out!

Manny

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2 responses to “Reliability of Scripture”

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